{"id":44126,"date":"2019-03-14T09:00:30","date_gmt":"2019-03-14T13:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/blog\/?p=44126"},"modified":"2019-03-14T16:56:41","modified_gmt":"2019-03-14T20:56:41","slug":"what-is-the-book-of-james-about-here-are-10-key-themes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/what-is-the-book-of-james-about-here-are-10-key-themes\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Book of James About? Here Are 10 Key Themes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Dr.<\/a>Today\u2019s post is adapted from Dr. Karen H. Jobes\u2019<\/em> Letters to the Church<\/a>, available in<\/em> MasterLectures<\/strong><\/a>, a new video-streaming platform that offers unlimited access to thousands of videos on the Bible and theology.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The Book of James<\/a> is a short letter full of practical insights into Christian living.<\/p>\n

James was a prominent leader of the early church. He uses his letter to expound on the true nature of faith and teach about the behavior and perspectives believers should embody.<\/p>\n

His letter is packed with powerful lines and memorable imagery. It embodies many of the essential teachings and beliefs of early Christianity.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at ten of the key themes in this short New Testament book.
\n<\/p>\n

1. God is the source of all wisdom<\/h3>\n

The Greek word for wisdom (sophia) occurs four times in the letter of James (1:5<\/a>; 3:13, 15, 17<\/a>). Wisdom is not a topic or theme of the book of James, but it is an assumed value essential for Christian living and under which all the various topics of the book are subsumed. James applied Jewish wisdom as it was developed and controlled by the teachings of Jesus to other practical topics for the wise Christian believer to take to heart in his or her life.<\/p>\n

James also considers the teachings of Jesus, which took the understanding of the law to a new level, and brings this rich tradition to the issues he felt were pressing at that moment, and which retain their significance for life as a Christian today.<\/p>\n

2. Testing and trials<\/h3>\n

Our lives are full of trials. James understands the true goal of trials to be perseverance. And perseverance works toward spiritual maturity and wholeness, which James implies are worthy goals for Christians. He says that eternal life (\u201cthe crown which is life\u201d) is the reward of those who persevere under trial.<\/p>\n

Professor Robert Wall says:
\n\u201c[James] is a book written for readers whose faith in God is threatened by a daily struggle with hardship. This \u2018testing of faith\u2019 is provoked by a variety of external and historical circumstances or \u2018trials.\u2019 Yet more importantly, every test occasions a theological crisis, when the believer is more easily deceived or confused about who God is and how God acts.\u201d<\/p>\n

The one who successfully perseveres under testing is the one who does not let their own evil desire drag them into the downward spiral of sin and death (1:13\u201315<\/a>). Those desires for evil are contrary to every good and perfect gift, which comes from the Father who gives life through the word of truth (1:16\u201317<\/a>).<\/p>\n

James invites his readers to live wisely by choosing life rather than death.<\/p>\n

3. Wealth and oppression<\/h3>\n

Socioeconomic disparity, both in society and in the church, seems to have been a major concern in James\u2019s mind as he wrote this letter.<\/p>\n

He introduces the topic by leveling the differences between the \u201chumble\u201d and the rich when viewed from the perspective of spiritual realities (1:9\u201311<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The humble believer\u2014even though they may be dismissed by society\u2014has received every privilege from God, who gives without consideration of one\u2019s material resources.<\/p>\n

Rich believers have been humbled, because no amount of wealth could buy what they have received from God in Christ; therefore, their resources are worthless in view of the gospel and can be no source of pride within the Christian community.<\/p>\n

4. Material things will not last<\/h3>\n

The poor, without material resources, have also received the riches of God\u2019s grace in Christ.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, the rich and poor are alike in another way\u2014both will pass away.<\/p>\n

Whatever protection the rich think their wealth will afford against the ups and downs of life, allowing them to live in relative luxury, is fleeting and temporary\u2014their lives are like wildflowers that have a short time of glory and then wither and pass away.<\/p>\n

In other words, in light of spiritual realities, financial resources or the lack of them are irrelevant to one\u2019s standing with God and one\u2019s inevitable future. For this reason, they should not be a defining issue in the social dynamic of the Christian church.<\/p>\n

5. The unjust rich<\/h3>\n

James does, however, issue a prophetic denouncement of those rich who have accumulated their wealth by the oppression and exploitation of others (5:1\u20136<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The harsh pronouncement of their coming misery suggests that even self-professing Christians who have so unjustly earned their wealth at the expense of others have missed the point of the gospel and will suffer judgment not different from the unbelieving rich.<\/p>\n

By putting the accumulation of money above love for others, such people are the \u201cadulterous people\u201d (4:4<\/a>) who stand in enmity against God because of their friendship with the world. The very wealth on which such people rely will be the witness against them.<\/p>\n

6. Everything belongs to God<\/h3>\n

All of James\u2019s discussion of wealth is intended to put the Christian\u2019s resources, no matter how little or how much, under God\u2019s sovereignty.<\/p>\n

To plan to do business and make money apart from recognition of God\u2019s control over one\u2019s life speaks of an evil arrogance that is incompatible with spiritual maturity (4:13\u201316<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In our times of enormous corporate scandal and financial scams from which certain people have gained extreme wealth, issues of rich and poor continue to entangle the church. James expects those with resources to do more than have pity on others who live in poverty and to do something to provide for their food and shelter (2:14\u201316<\/a>). Christians of poor nations indict the North American church for its lack of concern about clean water and adequate food in the poverty-stricken nations. The enticement of wealth is still a great danger to Christians today.<\/p>\n

7. Favoritism<\/h3>\n

While favoritism may seem like a small infraction, James points out that showing favoritism, especially in the Christian community, is breaking the royal law, \u201cLove your neighbor as yourself.\u201d This command is second only to loving God wholeheartedly.<\/p>\n

Recognizing that the \u201croyal law\u201d sums up all of the commandments that govern relationships between people, James points out, \u201cIf you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it\u201d (2:9\u201310<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Just as adultery and murder violate love for neighbor, so does favoritism. And then, as now, an inordinate valuing of those who possess material riches drove favoritism.<\/p>\n

Rich people, whether understood as fellow believers or unbelieving visitors, should especially not be shown favoritism in the gatherings of the Christian community (2:1\u201313<\/a>). Their show of wealth in the way they dress is not reason to receive more honorable treatment in the community. Similarly, the poor person should not be dishonored or treated as lesser because of the way they dress.<\/p>\n

All believers and visitors should be welcomed alike, without regard for wealth. Anything else violates the great command of love for one\u2019s neighbor.<\/p>\n

8. Godly speech<\/h3>\n

One of the New Testament\u2019s foremost ethical concerns is how people, especially God\u2019s people, use words. Speech is the primary way in which we interact with others, and it shapes our relationships day by day throughout our lives. James is particularly concerned with godly speech and lays out some principles:<\/p>\n